strange and random happenstance

Worlds of Ink and Shadlow by Lena Coakley
Published by: Amulet Books
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings find escape from their constrained lives via their rich imaginations. The glittering world of Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy world of Gondal literally come to life under their pens, offering the sort of romance and intrigue missing from their isolated parsonage home. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as the characters they have created—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go.

Gorgeously written and based on the Brontës’ juvenilia, Worlds of Ink and Shadow brings to life one of history’s most celebrated literary families in a thrilling, suspenseful fantasy."

This could be awesome or really really bad.

A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder by Victoria Laurie
Published by: NAL
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Medium M. J. Holliday battles demons in the tenth Ghost Hunter Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of No Ghouls Allowed.

M.J., Heath, and Gilley, are back home in Boston, where their new film is sure to be a monster hit! To promote the film, the studio is sponsoring a special exhibit of supernatural artifacts at a local museum. Unfortunately, Gilley—whose mind is engaged with wedding plans—gets talked into donating to the exhibit the very dagger that keeps the dangerous ghost Oruç and his pet demon locked down in the lower realms. Before M.J. can recover the bewitched blade, there’s a murder and a heist at the museum, and the dagger is stolen.

Now Oruç is coming for M.J. and her crew, and he's bringing with him some fiendish friends from M.J.’s haunted past. She, Gilley, and Heath are certain to be in for a devil of a time. M.J. may even need to recruit a certain skeptical Boston detective to help stop the paranormal party crashers from turning Gilley’s wedding bells to funeral knells. . . ."

Drat, I think I missed last year's volume, time to catch up!

Foreign Éclairs by Julie Hyzy
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: January 5th, 2016
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"White House executive chef Ollie Paras has served plenty of meals to foreign dignitaries from around the world. But someone is ready to serve her an ice-cold dish of revenge...

Things are about to really heat up for Ollie. News of a bombing and attempted breakout at a federal prison reveals that the brother of a terrorist she helped defeat is back with a vengeance. And after she gets mugged on her way home from work, the Secret Service won’t leave her side, fearing she is now a target.

When a White House staff member is murdered, officials rush to action over a possible security breach. It may be time for Ollie to trade in her apron for a bullet-proof vest as she becomes part of a bold strategy to make sure this terrorist gets his just desserts..."

For my mom, who loves these books.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder, Bronte, Foreign Eclairs, Ghost Hunter, Julie Hyzy, Lena Coakley, Tuesday Tomorrow, Victoria Laurie, White House Chef, Worlds of Ink and Shadow

Cemetery Girl Book 1: The Pretenders by Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden
Published by: InkLit
Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 128 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Charlaine Harris, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels and the Harper Connelly Mysteries, and New York Times bestselling author Christopher Golden present an original graphic novel illustrated by acclaimed comic book artist Don Kramer—first in a brand-new trilogy.

She calls herself Calexa Rose Dunhill—names taken from the grim surroundings where she awoke, bruised and bloody, with no memory of who she is, how she got there, or who left her for dead.

She has made the cemetery her home, living in a crypt and avoiding human contact. But Calexa can’t hide from the dead—and because she can see spirits, they can’t hide from her.

Then one night, Calexa spies a group of teenagers vandalizing a grave—and watches in horror as they commit murder. As the victim’s spirit rises from her body, it flows into Calexa, overwhelming her mind with visions and memories not her own.

Now Calexa must make a decision: continue to hide to protect herself—or come forward to bring justice to the sad spirit who has reached out to her for help..."

I remember years back, when Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book came out, Charlaine was saying how she had an idea about a girl growing up in a cemetery and now that Gaiman had written his book, she wasn't going to go ahead with her idea. To which he replied, oh please do write it, because no two people can write the same book. Plus, all book ideas are derivitive to an extent, so finally we get to see what Charlaine was thinking all those years ago. So excited, not to mention the Christopher Golden link!

The Ghoul Next Door by Victoria Laurie
Published by: Signet
Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"On a well-deserved hiatus from the ghoulish grind of their TV show, Ghoul Getters, psychic medium M. J. Holliday, her boyfriend, Heath, and her best friend, Gilley, are back home in Boston. But there’s no rest for the weary ghost busters. M. J.’s ex comes to her for help—his fiancée’s brother Luke seems haunted by a sinister spirit.

The crew sets up surveillance cameras to watch for the possessive poltergeist while Luke is sleeping. But when he goes outside in the middle of the night and returns hours later covered in blood, they are all very concerned—especially when the news reports the murder of a young woman in the neighborhood.

Now M. J., Heath, and Gilley must remain self-possessed as they try to stop a wicked ghost whose behavior is anything but neighborly."

Do I tire of our lovable Ghost Hunter? No.

Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Format: Paperback, 336 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"It’s the roaring twenties, and San Francisco is a hotbed of illegal boozing, raw lust, and black magic. The fog-covered Bay Area can be an intoxicating scene, particularly when you specialize in spirits…

Aida Palmer performs a spirit medium show onstage at Chinatown’s illustrious Gris-Gris speakeasy. However, her ability to summon (and expel) the dead is more than just an act.

Winter Magnusson is a notorious bootlegger who’s more comfortable with guns than ghosts—unfortunately for him, he’s the recent target of a malevolent hex that renders him a magnet for hauntings. After Aida’s supernatural assistance is enlisted to banish the ghosts, her spirit-chilled aura heats up as the charming bootlegger casts a different sort of spell on her...

On the hunt for the curseworker responsible for the hex, Aida and Winter become drunk on passion. And the closer they become, the more they realize they have ghosts of their own to exorcise…"

Sold at San Francisco, but extra want because of time period!

Home of the Braised by Julie Hyzy
Published by: Berkley
Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Format: Paperback, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"With the pressure of an upcoming state dinner that could make or break the president’s foreign policy, White House executive chef Olivia Paras has precious little time to focus on her wedding plans—or to catch a murderer…

Tensions are running high as the White House staff adjusts to a new chief usher and prepares for a high-stakes state dinner, where everything must be perfect. But as the date for the event approaches, things go disastrously wrong when the secretary of defense is found dead in his home, seemingly killed during a break-in.

At the same time Olivia’s fiancé, Gav, is looking into the mysterious murder of an old friend. Is there a connection? Despite an increase in security following the secretary’s death, Ollie learns the president is in imminent danger at the dinner and must do everything in her power to get to him—before it’s too late…"

For my mom who's addicted to these books.

Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs
Published by: Ace Hardcover
Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"The first Alpha and Omega novel, Cry Wolf, unlocked the doors to a unique urban landscape in “a great…new werewolf series” (Darque Reviews). In Hunting Ground, #1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs invites readers to follow her even deeper into that seductive realm of the unknown…

Anna Latham didn’t know how complicated life could be until she became a werewolf. And until she was mated to Charles Cornick, the son—and enforcer—of Bran, the leader of the North American werewolves, she didn’t know how dangerous it could be, either…

Anna and Charles have just been enlisted to attend a summit to present Bran’s controversial proposition: that the wolves should finally reveal themselves to humans. But the most feared Alpha in Europe is dead set against the plan—and it seems like someone else might be, too. When Anna is attacked by vampires using pack magic, the kind of power only werewolves should be able to draw on, Charles and Anna must combine their talents to hunt down whoever is behind it all—or risk losing everything…"

Easily love this series as much as Briggs's Mercy Thompson books, and now in a fabulous hardcover edition!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Cemetery Girl, Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden, Ghost Hunter, Hunting Ground, Jenn Bennett, Julie Hyzy, Neil Gaiman, Patricia Briggs, San Francisco, The Graveyard Book, Victoria Laurie

Unusual Uses for Olive Oil by Alexander McCall Smith
Published by: Anchor
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 224 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Life is so unfair, and it sends many things to try Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, author of Portuguese Irregular Verbs and pillar of the Institute of Romance Philology in the proud Bavarian city of Regensburg.There is the undeserved rise of his rival (and owner of a one-legged dachshund), Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer; the interminable ramblings of the librarian, Herr Huber; and the condescension of his colleagues with regard to his unmarried state. But when his friend Ophelia Prinzel takes it upon herself to match-make, and duly produces a cheerful heiress with her own Schloss, it appears that the professor's true worth is about to be recognised.Maddening, idiotic and hugely entertaining, von Igelfeld is an inspired comic creation."

The Professor finally returns in the 4th book in this series... one of like fifty series he's writing, seriously, how does he write this much?

What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie
Published by: Signet
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"M. J. Holliday has the unusual ability to talk to the dead. But when it comes to a vengeful ghost and a mysterious drowning, this time she may be in over her head….

THAT SINKING FEELING

Kidwella Castle in northern Wales is rumored to be haunted by a deadly ghost—the Grim Widow, who allegedly drowns unsuspecting guests in the castle’s moat. Not long after M. J. and her crew arrive at the castle to film their ghost-hunting cable TV show, Ghoul Getters, two new victims are added to the Widow’s grisly roster.

Fear ripples through the castle, especially when it’s discovered that the victims may have had help into their watery graves from the land of the living. The local inspector suspects father-son serial killers, but M. J. thinks that theory is all wet. To catch the true culprit she will need to dive deep into the castle’s past and bring some long buried secrets to the surface."

Get ready, it's time to go ghoul hunting!

Guilded by Karina Cooper
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: December 25th, 2012
Format: Paperback, 384 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In the gleaming heights of Victorian London, a world of deception awaits an unconventional Society lady whose taste for adventure makes her a most formidable adversary . . .

Though Society demands that I make a good marriage, I, Cherry St. Croix, have neither the time nor the interest. I am on the trail of a murder with no victim, a mystery with no motive, and the key to an alchemical formula that could be my family's legacy.

Yet the world is not so kind as to let me pursue simple murder and uncomplicated bounties. Above the foggy drift, an earl insists on my attention, while my friends watch my increasingly desperate attempts to remain my own woman. From the silken demands of the Midnight Menagerie—to whose dangerously seductive ringmaster I owe a debt—to the rigorous pressures of the peerage, all are conspiring to place before me a choice that will forever change my life."

What about this book doesn't scream me? Also, yeah for breaks from school and tons of time to read!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Alexander McCall Smith, Ghost Hunter, Gilded, Karina Cooper, St. Croix Chronicles, Victoria Laurie

The Retribution by Val McDermid
Published by: Atlantic Monthly Press
Publication Date: December 27th, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Val McDermid is a world-class crime writer whose books have sold millions worldwide. Now joining the Atlantic Monthly Press list for the first time, she is back with a chilling, high-velocity thriller featuring her immensely popular creations, clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Hill and detective Carol Jordan.

Tony Hill has had a good run. He and detective Carol Jordan have put away scores of dangerous criminals at a rate that colleagues envy. But there is one serial killer who has shaped and defined their careers, and whose evil surpasses all others: Jacko Vance, ex-celebrity and sociopath whose brilliance and utter lack of remorse have never left Tony’s mind in the ten years since his imprisonment. Now Jacko has escaped from prison—even more twisted and cunning than before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on Tony and Carol for his years spent in prison.

Tony and Carol don’t know when Jacko will strike, or where. All they know is that Jacko will cause them to feel fear like they’ve never known. A chilling, utterly gripping tour de force, The Retribution is the ideal introduction or re-introduction to the world of Tony Hill and Carol Jordan. It is an unforgettable read."

How I've been missing Tony Hill! Not having Wire in the Blood anymore is painful, like the torture devised by one of Bradfield's sickest. At least I still have the books even if I don't have Robson Green...

Ghoul Interrupted by Victoria Laurie
Published by: Signet
Publication Date: December 27th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"M.J. Holliday and her crew interrupt the frantic schedule of their reality TV show, Ghoul Getters, and hotfoot it to New Mexico, where a dreadful demon is waging tribal warfare. Same Whitefeather- M.J.'s spirit guide-urgently needs her help to stop this evil spirit from wiping out the descendants of his tribe. It doesn't take a psychic to predict that M.J.'s going to have a devil of a time making New Mexico a demon-free zone."

Yet another new book in the fun and frivolous Ghost Hunter series!

Knit One, Pearl One by Gil McNeil
Published by: Voice
Publication Date: December 27th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 416 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"In this follow-up to Needles and Pearls, McNeil returns to Jo Mackenzie’s lively knitting store in Broadgate, England. Now a mother to three children (Archie, Jack, and toddler Pearl) with different fathers, Jo is pursuing a romancewith a local carpenter, Martin, but also carrying secrets: local superstar Grace is pregnant and Jo isn’t sure about her feelings for Martin. When Pearl’s father—dashing photographer Daniel—reappears, Jo allows herself and the kids to be whisked away on a vacation, and must decide what she really wants out of her relationships with each man. Readers curious about Jo’s antics since the last installment of the Beach Street series will find that McNeil hits the ground running. However, the ground merely focuses on the harried world of single parenthood and owning a business. The plot proceeds slowly, and little changes for Jo or the other characters. Readers who already have a relationship with the characters might not mind; new readers may feel underwhelmed. "

I've only recently picked up the first book in this series... but it looks like it might be a fun series for those of us who like to knit.

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon
Published by: Braodway
Publication Date: December 27th, 2011
Format: Paperback, 320 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Lady Fiona Carnarvon became the chatelaine of Highclere Castle - the setting of the hit series Downton Abbey - eight years ago. In that time she's become fascinated by the rich history of Highclere, and by the extraordinary people who lived there over the centuries.

One person particularly captured Fiona's imagination - Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon.

Almina was the illegitimate daughter of banking tycoon Alfred de Rothschild. She was his only daughter and he doted on her. She married the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, at 19, with an enormous dowry.

At first, life at Highclere was a dizzying mix of sumptuous banquets for 500 and even the occasional royal visitor. Almina oversaw 80 members of staff - many of whom came from families who had worked at Highclere for generations.

But when the First World War broke out, life at Highclere changed forever.

History intervened and Almina and the staff of Highclere were thrown into one of the most turbulent times of the last century. Almina was forced to draw on her deepest reserves of courage in order to ensure her family, the staff and the castle survived.

This is the remarkable story of a lost time. But Highclere remains and in this book, Fiona weaves Almina's journey and those of her family into the heritage and history of one of England's most exquisite Victorian castles."

Can't get enough Downton Abbey is what I say! Yeah Downton! Yeah Carnarvons! Yeah!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Carnarvon, Downton Abbey, Ghost Hunter, Ghoul Interrupted, Gil McNeil, Highclere Castle, Knit One Pearl One, The Retribution, Tony Hill, Val McDermid, Victoria Laurie, Wire in the Blood

Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, No. 5) by Victoria Laurie
Published by: Penguin
Publication Date: December 28th, 2010
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"When M.J. Holliday and the crew of her cable TV show, Ghoul Getters, venture to the haunted ruins of Dunlow Castle in Ireland, drawn by the legend of hidden treasure, they hope the road will rise up to meet them, that the wind will always be at their backs-and that the resident phantom won't push them off a cliff. If they treasure their lives, M.J. and her ghost busters need to get the drop on the menacing phantom..."

Yeah new Ghosthunter book! And yeah for Murder by the Book holding the book launch!

Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeler
Published by: Orbit
Publication Date: December 28th, 2010
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"After a peaceful hiatus at home in Rockabill, Jane True thinks that her worst problem is that she still throws like a girl - at least while throwing fireballs. Her peace of mind ends, however, when Anyan arrives one night with terrible news . . . news that will rock Jane's world to its very core.

After demanding to help investigate a series of gruesome attacks on females — supernatural, halfling, and human — Jane quickly finds herself forced to confront her darkest nightmares as well as her deepest desires.

And she's not sure which she finds more frightening."

A fun new Jane True book yeah!

Deadly Little Games by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Published by: Hyperion
Publication Date: December 28th, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 304 Pages
To Buy
The official patter:
"Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: They both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense things through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend.

Before either teen has a chance to fully grasp these abilities, an unresolved family tragedy resurfaces in Camelia's life, irrevocably changing everything she cares about..."

I've been wanting to pick up the first in the Touch Series... how time flies, she's already one book three!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Deadly Little Games, Ghost Hunter, Ghouls Ghouls Ghouls, Jane True, Laurie Faria Stolarz, Murder by the Book, Nichole Peeler, Tempest's Legacy, Touch, Victoria Laurie